Work bench frame

ABSTRACT

A work bench including a frame foldable between an in-use position and a closed position. A table surface is connected to the frame. The frame includes two sides, the two sides connected to each other with a latchable bar and one or more fixed crossbars. The work bench also includes movable catch which is movable from a position in which it retains the latchable bar at the latched position to maintain the work bench in an in-use position, and a released position in which the latchable bar is release from the catch to allow the work bench to be folded into a closed position.

CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS

This is a continuation application of application Ser. No. 13/956,494,filed Aug. 1, 2013, which claims priority to EP Patent Application No.EP 13155483.4 filed Feb. 15, 2013, the contents thereof to beincorporated herein by reference in its entirety.

FIELD OF THE INVENTION

The present invention relates to portable work benches or tables whichinclude an integral clamping table or vise. More particularly, thepresent invention relates to a work table with a clamping table or vise.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

Carpenters, woodworkers and handymen who work with wood as well as othermaterials, often need a work bench or table which may be utilized tohold workpieces. Ordinarily, these work benches include a metal frameand a table surface connected to the frame, the table surface includingat least two substantially flat members. The table surface members arecommonly made of wood or a similar material. One of the members ismovably coupled with said frame in order to enable clamping of aworkpiece between said members. The drive mechanism for moving themember may be operable using two hands, or even one hand. These tablesmay provide for secure clamping and may be versatile, compact andadjustable.

The frames of such work benches are often foldable, such that the tablesurface and frame can easily and safely be folded between an open,‘in-use’ position and a compact, closed position. In the ‘in-use’position, the table surface is supported by the frame in a substantiallyhorizontal orientation and can be used in various ways, for example tosupport or to clamp a workpiece. In the closed position, the supportingframe is collapsed in order to make it easier for a user to carry thework bench in the closed position, and to minimize the space needed tostore the work bench. The folding operation normally requires the userto activate one or more catches, which allows the frame to be folded orlegs to be extended or collapsed in a number of stages. The foldingoperation is often difficult and awkward for the user due to the weightof the work bench itself and the movements that need to be made, andforeign objects may easily become trapped between hinged framecomponents. It is therefore desirable to provide an improved foldingmechanism.

BRIEF SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The present invention provides an improved folding mechanism for a workbench. The frame is held in the ‘in-use’ position by one or more latchedmembers that can be released in order to in order to allow the workbench to start folding under gravity. Once the work bench has startedfolding, the user simply causes the table surface to continue moving inthe same way in order to completely fold the work bench. The work benchis unfolded by reversing the same movement.

In accordance with the present invention, there is provided a work benchcomprising a frame foldable between an in-use position and a closedposition, a table surface connected to the frame, said table surfaceincluding at least two members, at least one of said members movablycoupled with said frame for enabling clamping of a workpiece betweensaid members. The frame has two sides, left and right, which areconnected to each other via a latchable bar and one or more fixedcrossbars. Each of the two sides of the frame includes a bracketassembly supporting the table surface, a rear leg pivotally connected tothe bracket assembly and a front leg pivotally connected to the bracketassembly. Each side also includes a bracket strut, one end of which ispivotally connected to the bracket assembly, wherein the bracket strutis connected closer to one end of the bracket assembly than both therear leg and the front leg are; a rear strut, one end of which ispivotally connected to the rear leg; and a front strut, one end of whichis pivotally connected to the front leg. The bracket strut, rear strutand front strut on the left side of the frame are pivotally connected toeach other at a left main joint, and the bracket strut, rear strut andfront strut on the right side of the frame are pivotally connected toeach other at a right main joint. Both main joints are joined to thereleasable crossbar, such that when the work bench is in the in-useposition the latchable bar is latched to a component of the frame at alatched position and is releasable in order to allow both main joints tofall due to gravity.

The work bench frame may be folded from the in-use position into thefully closed position, preferably in one continuous movement. In thefully closed position, the table surface may be substantially parallelto the front and the rear legs. This may help to minimize the thicknessof the work bench in the closed position, which makes the work bencheasier to carry and minimizes the space required for storage.

The work bench may further comprise a movable catch, wherein the catchretains the latchable bar at the latched position while the work benchis in an in-use position, and wherein the latchable bar is releasablefrom the latched position by activation of the catch. The movable catchmay be attached to one of the legs of the frame, or to the latchablebar. The movable catch may for example be a hook, which latches on toanother part of the frame, and which is unhooked on activation.

The frame may also include at least one catch operable to latch the workbench in a closed position. Such a catch may also function as themovable catch that latches the work bench in the in-use position. Bothof the two sides of the frame may comprise a similar movable catch, andmay be arranged such that both movable catches must be activated inorder to release the latchable bar. If both sides of the frame have amovable catch, they may be connected such that they can be activated atthe same time.

One or both bracket struts may have an extension portion extendingbeyond the respective main joint, such that when the work bench is inthe in-use position and the latchable bar is released, the extensionportion moves in advance of the main joint towards a surface supportingthe work bench. The extension portion may make contact with the supportsurface, and act as a foot for the work bench as it is moved into theclosed position. Alternatively, the main joint or a part extending fromthe main joint, or a part of one of the struts, may make contact withthe support surface and act as a foot for the work bench as it is movedinto the closed position. Alternatively, another part of the work benchmay act as a foot as the work bench is moved into the closed position,or the work bench may be supported only by the front leg and the user,as it is moved into the closed position.

On each side of the frame, the front leg, which is connected to thebracket assembly at its top end, may be provided at its bottom end witha foot having an angled front surface such that the work bench may bepartially supported on the angled front surface when vertical in theclosed position.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

The invention is herein described, by way of example only, withreference to the accompanying drawings, wherein:

FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a work bench in accordance with thepresent invention, in an open ‘in-use’ position.

FIG. 2 is a side view of the work bench of FIG. 1 in a part-closedposition.

FIG. 3 is a side view of the work bench of FIG. 1 in a closed position.

FIG. 4 is a view of an embodiment of the latching mechanism andlatchable bar.

The preferred embodiment of the present invention is a work bench whichis identified with the reference numeral 10. The work bench includes aframe structure 12 which has two sides, the two sides connected to eachother with one or more crossbars 18 and a latchable bar 19. The workbench may be used in conjunction with one or more bracing pegs ofvarious shapes, in order to brace a workpiece. The bracing pegs may berepositionable in a plurality of positions on the work bench, allowingbracing of workpieces of different sizes and shapes. The bracing pegsmay be fitted to the work bench by any known method, including fittinginto holes 28 or channels 29 in the top or sides respectively of a tablesurface member 24, 26. Four top pegs 8 are shown in FIG. 1. Elongatedbracing pegs (not shown) may be slideably engaged in side channels 29 ofa table surface member 24, 26. The side channels may be integrallyformed in the table surface member or they may be formed of metal andattached to the table surface member. One or more bracing pegs may havea beveled or tapered shaft with a hooked base, in order to allow the pegto be easily inserted into a through-hole in a table surface member, andthen retained securely therein by means of the hooked base bearingagainst the bottom surface of the table surface member.

Each side of the frame 12 includes a front leg 14, a rear leg 16 and abracket assembly including a bracket 20, the bracket providing supportfor the table surface. The table surface comprises two members 24 and26, one of which is movable with respect to the frame. As shown in FIG.1, the brackets 18 may be spaced apart from each other, and arepreferably positioned close to opposing outer side edges of the twotable surface members 24 and 26, so that the brackets do notunnecessarily prevent sections of clamped workpieces from being able toprotrude down in-between the two table surface members.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

In FIG. 1, the brackets include means to enable the fixed second tableportion 26 to be fixed onto the brackets 20 by any suitable means, forexample by a nut and bolt connection. The brackets 20 have a hollowportion with elongated slots 21 in the top surface, which enablemovement of the movable table surface member 26 with respect to thebrackets 20. An elongated screw is positioned within each bracket 20.The screws include a threaded portion which carries a threaded nutcoupled with the movable table surface member 26 through the slot 21.The screws can be rotated by handles 44, 50 to force the threaded nutsto move along the screws, which causes the movable table surface member26 to move laterally towards or away from the other table surface member24, depending on the direction of rotation of the screws. In alternativeembodiments, the table surface may be entirely fixed, and may includefixing points for power tools such as circular saws or the like.

The structure and function of one side of the frame will now bedescribed, with the understanding that both sides of the frame arestructured in a substantially identical way, and that each side moves insubstantially the same way during opening and closing of the work bench.On each side of the frame 12, the rear leg 16 is pivotally connected tothe bracket assembly at connection point 32 and the front leg 14 ispivotally connected to the same bracket assembly at connection point 31.Preferably, each leg 14, 16, is provided with a foot 13, 17, at itslower end. Each side of the frame further comprises a bracket strut 60,a front strut 62 and a rear strut 64. The front strut 62 has two ends,one of which is connected to the front leg 14, and one of which isconnected at a main joint 70 to both the bracket strut 60 and the rearstrut 64. The bracket strut 60 is pivotally connected to the bracketassembly near the front of the work bench 10, and to the other twostruts at the main joint 70. The rear strut 64 is pivotally connected tothe rear leg 16 and to the other two struts at the main joint 70.

The latchable bar and the latching mechanism of the work bench of FIG. 1are shown in FIG. 4 separated from the frame. In the embodiment shown,two movable catches 72 linked to the frame at pivot points 73, are eachconnected to an activator 74 via an articulated link comprising a bar 76and a linkage 78. In this embodiment, the activator 74 is in the form ofa handle and pole, the pole being attached to one linkage 78 near eachend. The activator 74 is rotatably attached to the frame at the frontlegs 14, and the two bars 76 are each located within a channel of therespective front leg 14. When the work bench is in the in-use position,as shown in FIG. 1, the latchable bar 19 is latched close to the frontlegs 14 by the movable catches 72. Alternatively, the latching mechanismmay include only one movable catch, and the activator and connectionbetween the activator and the movable catch may be arranged differently.The activator may be directly linked a movable catch such that anarticulated link is not required. Preferably, if more than one movablecatch is present, they are all linked to and activated by one activatorin order to avoid unequal stresses on the movable catches if one catchis released independently, although alternatively there may be oneactivator for each movable catch. The latching mechanism can be locatedat any suitable position on the frame in order to latch the latchablebar to a certain component of the frame, for example a back leg or acrossbar.

In order to fold the work bench of FIG. 1 from the in-use position tothe closed position, the activator 74 is turned to turn the movablecatches 72 on their pivots and release the latchable bar 19. Thelatchable bar 19 and main joint 70 are then free to drop as shown inFIG. 2. One edge of the table surface rotates downwards and the oppositeedge is elevated, so that the table surface is no longer substantiallyhorizontal. The bracket strut has an elongated extension portion 61 atits lower end, which extends beyond the main joint 70 and is providedwith a foot 65. The foot 65 drops until it reaches the surface on whichthe work bench is supported. In order to continue closing the workbench, the user continues to rotate the elevated edge of the tablesurface manually, causing the lower end of the rear leg 16 to be liftedsuch that the work bench is supported on the lower end of the front leg14 and the lower end of the bracket strut 60, as shown in FIG. 3. Foot13 has an angled toe 15, onto which the front foot can be tilted whilethe work bench is being closed and which the front foot may rest on whenthe work bench is closed.

Accidental activation of the folding mechanism can be avoided by theactivator 74 requiring a pre-activation movement to be applied before itcan be used to release the catches. For example, the activator may havea two-stage operation, so that it is necessary for the user to slightlymove the activator horizontally, before it can be turned to release thecatches. One way in which this can be achieved is to provide theactivator with a pin which engages with another part of the frame toprevent the activator from turning until the activator is movedhorizontally against a biasing spring or similar, in order to disengagethe pin. Once the pin is disengaged, the activator can be turned inorder to release the catches.

The work bench of FIG. 3 has a catch point on each rear leg 16, which ispositioned to allow the movable latches 72 to engage with the catchpoints when the work bench is in a closed position, in order to preventthe work bench opening until a user activates the latching mechanismagain. Alternatively, one or more separate catches which can operatedirectly by the user can be provided to secure the work bench in theclosed position.

The bracket strut 60 may be connected to the bracket assembly at anypoint closer to one end of the bracket than the rear leg and front leg.In the embodiment shown in FIG. 1, the bracket strut 60 is connected tothe bracket assembly close to its front, end, while both legs areconnected close to its rear end, which arrangement provides goodstability for use of the table surfaces in the in-use position, andpermits the work bench to be relatively compact when in the foldedclosed position. As shown in FIG. 1, the connection points 31 and 32 ofthe front and rear legs respectively, are at different perpendiculardistances below the substantially horizontal plane of the table surfacewhen the work bench is in the in-use position. This allows the rear leg16 to fold to be substantially parallel to the front leg 14, when thework bench is in the closed position, as shown in FIG. 3. The tablesurface is also substantially parallel to the front and rear legs whenthe work bench is in the closed position. The closed position iscompact.

In order to open the work bench of FIGS. 1 to 3, the user stands theclosed work bench in a vertical position, supported on at least one ofthe front leg 14 or the bracket strut 60, preferably both. The user thenallows the elevated edge of the table surface to rotate downwards, untilthe lower end of the rear leg contacts the surface on which the workbench is supported. The user then rotates the lower edge of the tablesurface further, lifting the bracket strut and the main joint, until thelatchable bar engages with the latching mechanism. Latches 72 areprovided with angled profiles such that during the final stage ofopening of the work bench, the latchable bar bears upon the latches andcauses them to move and then to latch onto the latchable barautomatically, so that the user does not have to carry out any furthersteps in order to fix the work bench into the in-use position. Inalternative embodiments, the user may need to actively engage thelatches with the latchable bar.

When the present folding mechanism is activated to close the work bench,the closing process begins automatically, under the action of gravity.This makes the closing process easy for the user. It is also easy forthe user to understand how to continue the closing process once thelower end of the front strut has contacted the surface on which the workbench is supported, since it is a smooth continuation of the samerotational movement of the table surface.

The table surface may be made of any suitable solid or laminatedmaterial, for example wood, bamboo, wood-like material or plastic. Theframe structure is preferably made of metal, but could be made of anyother suitably rigid material, for example, wood or reinforced plastic.The parts of the frame which contact the surface on which the work benchis supported, including the lower ends of the front and rear legs, andoptionally the lower end of the bracket strut, may be provided withplastic or rubber feet in order to minimize slippage on the supportingsurface on which the work bench is placed.

It should be understood that although the invention has been describedin conjunction with specific embodiments thereof, it is evident thatmany alternatives, modifications and variations will be apparent tothose skilled in the art. Accordingly, it is intended to embrace allsuch alternatives, modifications and variations that fall within thescope of the claims.

The invention claimed is:
 1. A work bench comprising: a frame foldablebetween an in-use position and a closed position; a table surfaceconnected to the frame; wherein the frame comprises two sides, the twosides connected to each other with a latchable bar and one or more fixedcrossbars; a movable catch which is movable from a position in which itretains the latchable bar at the latched position to thereby maintainthe work bench in an in-use position, and a released position in whichthe latchable bar is released from the catch to thereby allow the workbench to be folded into a closed position; wherein the latchable bar andthe one or more fixed crossbars are parallel to one another at leastwhen the work bench is in the in-use position; wherein the latchable barand the one or more fixed crossbars are not co-axial; and wherein anactuator for activating the catch is disposed remotely from the catch.2. The work bench according to claim 1, wherein the latchable bar andthe one or more fixed cross bars are spaced apart from one another. 3.The work bench according to claim 1, wherein the table surface includesat least two members, at least one of said members movably coupled tosaid frame for enabling clamping of a workpiece between said members. 4.A work bench comprising: a frame foldable between an in-use position anda closed position; a first table surface, the first table surface beingconfigured to support a workpiece and being connected to the frame, theframe including a first side and a second side opposite the first side,the first side and the second side being connected to each other by alatchable bar and a fixed crossbar; a movable catch which is movablefrom a position in which it retains the latchable bar at the latchedposition to thereby maintain the work bench in an in-use position, and areleased position in which the latchable bar is released from the catchto thereby allow the work bench to be folded into a closed position;wherein the first table surface extends from the first side to thesecond side and is moveable in a direction generally perpendicular tothe fixed crossbar connecting the first side and the second side.
 5. Thework bench of claim 4, wherein the first table surface is generallyflat.
 6. The work bench of claim 5, wherein the first table surface isrectangular shaped.
 7. The work bench of claim 6, further comprising asecond table surface, the first table surface being movable with respectto the first table surface.
 8. The work bench of claim 4, wherein thelatchable bar and the fixed crossbar are parallel to one another atleast when the work bench is in the in-use position.
 9. The work benchof claim 4, wherein an actuator for activating the catch is disposedremotely from the catch.
 10. The work bench according to claim 4,wherein the movable catch moves toward the first table member when itmoves from the position in which it retains the latchable bar at thelatched position to the released position in which the latchable bar isreleased from the catch.
 11. The work bench of claim 4, wherein thelatchable bar and the one or more fixed crossbars are parallel to oneanother at least when the work bench is in the in-use position; andwherein the latchable bar and the one or more fixed crossbars are notco-axial.
 12. A work bench comprising: a frame foldable between anin-use position and a closed position; a first table surface, the firsttable surface being configured to support a workpiece and beingconnected to the frame, the frame including a first side and a secondside opposite the first side, the first side and the second side beingconnected to each other by a latchable bar and a fixed crossbar; amovable catch which is movable from a position in which it retains thelatchable bar at the latched position to thereby maintain the work benchin an in-use position, and a released position in which the latchablebar is released from the catch to thereby allow the work bench to befolded into a closed position; wherein the first table surface extendsfrom the first side to the second side; and wherein the movable catchmoves toward the first table member when it moves from the position inwhich it retains the latchable bar at the latched position to thereleased position in which the latchable bar is released from the catch;and further comprising a second table surface, the first table surfacebeing movable with respect to the second table surface.
 13. The workbench of claim 12, wherein the first table surface is moveable in adirection generally perpendicular to the fixed crossbar connecting thefirst side and the second side.
 14. The work bench of claim 12, whereinthe first table surface is generally flat and rectangular shaped. 15.The work bench of claim 12, wherein the latchable bar and the one ormore fixed crossbars are parallel to one another at least when the workbench is in the in-use position; and wherein the latchable bar and theone or more fixed crossbars are not co-axial.
 16. The work bench ofclaim 12, wherein an actuator for activating the catch is disposedremotely from the catch.
 17. The work bench according to claim 12,wherein the movable catch comprises a first hook which latches a firstend of the latchable bar and a second hook which latches a second end ofthe latchable bar.